Ramesh Pokhrel
KATHMANDU
Across the rugged mountains, lush valleys and teeming cities, Nepal is preparing for parliamentary elections scheduled for March 5. At first glance, the preparations resemble the familiar rhythm of democracy: volunteers handing out sample ballots in rural villages, banners fluttering across city streets and the local media reporting on rallies and speeches. Yet beneath this surface, the election is more than a routine political exercise. It is a test of Nepal’s institutions, a measure of governance and a reflection of generational change.
In small villages, volunteers are moving from house to house, explaining the mechanics of voting and patiently answering questions from citizens. “It is important that every citizen understands how to cast a valid vote,” says 22-year-old volunteer Ritu Shrestha. “If you stray outside the box, your vote will not count.” The effort reflects a broader initiative by the election commission to reduce invalid votes and foster civic engagement.
Meanwhile, in urban centres such as Kathmandu, Pokhara, Biratnagar and Jhapa, the tone is different, with Gen Z emerging as a politically engaged and digitally connected electorate. Students are livestreaming debates, fact-checking party manifestos and sharing clips of campaign speeches on social media. Political discussions have migrated from the narrow alleyways of old city neighbourhoods to the endless feeds of digital platforms. This generation approaches politics with scepticism and curiosity, demanding accountability and transparency. They question promises, challenge inconsistencies and are quick to compare rhetoric with past performance. Their engagement is both a reflection of their aspirations and a reminder that Nepali democracy is entering a new, digitally mediated era.
The elections are also a test of security and state capacity. Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal has emphasised that safety and order are central to the electoral process. Since the dissolution of parliament, authorities have deployed the army, the police, and the national investigation department under an integrated security plan. Provincial and district command posts monitor potential threats daily, and special attention is being given to residual risks from the Gen Z movement last year, during which prisoners escaped and weapons were looted. Officials report that most of these weapons have been recovered and that escaped prisoners no longer pose a significant threat, yet sporadic clashes continue to remind citizens of the fragility of security.
Complicating the security environment is Nepal’s open border with India, which is vital for trade, energy and the movement of people. It also presents risks of cross-border crime, smuggling and political influence. Intelligence-sharing mechanisms between the two countries help monitor potential threats and ensure the smooth conduct of elections. Political parties walk a fine line, emphasising sovereignty publicly while relying on regional cooperation to maintain stability and secure logistics. This dynamic illustrates how Nepal’s domestic politics are deeply intertwined with regional geopolitics, creating layers of complexity that extend beyond the ballot box.
Economic ambition is also dominating party platforms, yet the feasibility of these promises raises questions. Nepal’s current GDP hovers around 6.1 trillion rupees, or roughly $40 billion. The Communist Party of Nepal (UML) pledges to expand it to 100 trillion rupees in five years and 200 trillion in ten. The Nepali Congress targets 115 trillion rupees in five years, emphasising large-scale mobilisation of both public and private investment. Achieving sustained high growth will require structural reforms: expanding industrial capacity, developing hydropower resources, diversifying exports, streamlining infrastructure projects and ensuring policy continuity. Historical growth rates of 4–5 per cent over the past decade highlight the magnitude of the challenge.
The stakes are particularly high for education and employment, which are central to the concerns of young voters. The Nepali Congress promises to allocate 20 per cent of the national budget to education, reform university governance and ensure the timely distribution of textbooks. The CPN-UML emphasises employment-oriented and digitally integrated curricula under a framework it describes as “earn while you learn”. The Rastriya Swatantra Party seeks to depoliticise schools and universities, removing party affiliations from teachers while introducing inclusive modern educational institutions across provinces. For young voters, education is not merely a domestic issue; it is a pathway to international opportunities and a hedge against the need for migration, which has long shaped Nepal’s labour and social dynamics.
Employment promises are equally ambitious. The Nepali Congress projects the creation of 1.5 million jobs over five years, while CPN-UML targets 500,000 annually, including positions in the burgeoning information technology sector. The Rastriya Swatantra Party emphasises digital employment, remote work and programmes to attract foreign talent and facilitate cross-border services. Yet millions of Nepalis still depend on remittances from labour migration. Reducing reliance on foreign employment without creating viable domestic opportunities could intensify economic pressures on families and communities.
Health care and social welfare also feature prominently in party manifestos. Health insurance, province-level speciality centres, integration of mental health services and capped private hospital fees are recurring themes. Social security initiatives encompass pensions for farmers, allowances for mothers, disability support and programmes targeting vulnerable age groups. Implementation, however, remains a formidable challenge. Fiscal constraints and administrative limitations could hinder the expansion of these programmes.
Representation and inclusivity are central yet contested issues. Women and marginalised communities often remain underrepresented despite public commitments to equity. Ticket allocation frequently favours politically connected elites, reflecting patterns that persist even among newer political parties.
Nepal’s institutions like the judiciary, bureaucracy and police are facing intense scrutiny during this electoral cycle. The judiciary is perceived as politicised, with appointments often reflecting party allegiance. Bureaucrats are sometimes partisan, undermining neutral policy implementation. Police practices remain uneven, particularly with regard to dalits and other marginalised communities, reminding citizens that law enforcement continues to grapple with legacy issues of bias. Economic growth, social reform and democratic legitimacy hinge on the effectiveness and impartiality of these institutions.
Social media, digital campaigning and Gen Z activism have transformed the electoral landscape. Youth engagement is increasingly digital. While digital platforms offer unprecedented opportunities for accountability, they also magnify the risks of misinformation. Security agencies are coordinating with regional partners to monitor potential threats, reflecting the transnational nature of modern electoral oversight.
Nepal’s relationship with India, youth activism, economic uncertainty and institutional weaknesses have converged to make this election more than a contest for parliamentary seats. It is a referendum on governance, institutional integrity and the nation’s capacity to meet the expectations of its citizens. Volunteers distributing sample ballots may appear minor, yet they symbolise the lifeblood of democracy, connecting citizens with the process, the promises and the possibilities of political participation.
Nepali democracy has always been fragile, shaped by complex geography, historical legacies and regional interdependencies. This election, characterised by the interplay of economic ambition, generational activism, institutional performance and regional diplomacy, could define the nation’s trajectory for decades.
The stakes are particularly high for Gen Z voters who bring digital literacy, global awareness and scepticism to the political process. Their engagement may determine whether the promises of political elites are scrutinised, challenged and ultimately delivered.
The true story of this elections will be written in the years that follow, in whether Nepal can convert the energy of a digitally connected youth, the vigilance of civil society and the commitment of institutions into enduring progress. The ballots themselves are a tool, but what they produce—equity, growth, accountability and opportunity—will determine the future of the nation.
The writer is a journalist in Kathmandu.